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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: toast · spell · prune · season · bank · cue · deal · dip

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. season — in sport
  3. bank — for money
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. deal — to handle
  6. spell — magic
  7. season — of the year
  8. spell — a short time
  9. prune — to trim
  10. bank — for money
  11. cue — for pool
  12. cue — a hint
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. cue — a signal
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. spell — letters
  17. toast — bread
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. prune — to trim
  22. dip — to sink
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. bank — of a river

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com